Mark W.

General Info

• Certified Music Teacher

  Certified Music Teacher

  Our rigorous hiring process requires a completed application; an interview with our professional recruiting specialists; personal and professional reference checks; and annual criminal background checks for the duration of each teacher's employment with us.

  
• Background Check Complete

  Criminal Background Check

  In order to ensure the safety of our students, all teachers undergo a thorough criminal background check, which includes: Social Security number trace, multi-state criminal search and a nationwide sex offender registry search.

  
• Levels: Beginner to Advanced

• In-Home Lessons: No
• In-Studio Lessons: Yes
• Ages: 5 & up

Subjects Taught

Piano, Singing, Violin, Music Performance, Music Theory, Opera Voice, Songwriting, Speaking Voice, Theatrical Broadway Singing

Education

Raytown High School - General Studies - 1996-2000 (High School diploma received)
University of Central Missouri - Bachelor of Music - 2000-2005 (Bachelor's degree received)
University of Missouri - Master of Music - 2005-2009 (Master's degree received)

Specialties

My emphasis is classical or Fine Art music. I am a conductor of several youth and adult choirs in Portland. I also sing in professionally ensembles with groups including the Oregon Symphony. In graduate school I studied and taught Music Theory and Composition. I am also an active pianist, and have accompanied singers visiting the Portland area in recitals. My expertise is both wide and specific within the European classical tradition. That said many of my recent voice students have been singers ... in local rock bands or musical productions. All musicians, regardless of their genre, need mastery and control over their voice or instrument. Increased skills allow the student to decide how to interpret a song rather than having to use their default style or techniques.

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Lesson Details

Broadly, lessons will be geared to the needs and goals of the student. Possible components of the lesson include warm-ups and stretches, technique, ear training, choosing and fine tuning pieces of music, and composition. I am a hands-on, one-step-at-a-time teacher. I believe in the whole musician, which incorporates music theory, history, and performance as it applies to each student and their areas of interest. In all cases, we will be searching for and exploring music that the students can be ... excited about.

BEGINNING PIANO and VIOLIN - The foundations of music require many skills layered on top of one another. We will start by learning fingering, note names, and short pieces. The students will be making music even from the beginning. The lessons will progress from learning by rote to reading music. We will incorporate clapping rhythms, singing, and musical games.

INTERMEDIATE PIANO and VIOLIN - We will focus on refining technique, sight-reading, music theory, and building an exciting repertoire of music that they love to play and can share with others.

VOICE - Singing always begins with physical stretches and vocal warm-ups. These exercises are tailored to address specific areas of development in the songs we are learning. For middle school students and younger, I require keyboard studies as a secondary instrument. Studying piano in addition to singing supports pitch conception and production, sight-reading, and a gamut of invaluable tools. For high school and college students, we will focus on at least two songs for contest, one in a language other than English.

I look forward to meeting you!

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About

Mark holds a Master of Music from the University of Missouri. He teaches piano, voice, violin, and composition. His students range from pre-schoolers to adults and include all skill levels, from beginner to professional. Mark is a faculty member at the Community Music Center and Multnomah Arts Center where we directs the choirs. He is also an Associate Conductor with the Pacific Youth Choir where we directs the boys choir.

In addition to teaching, Mark is actively involved in Portland's ... classical music scene. He sings with the Portland Symphonic Choir, Oregon Symphony, and as the tenor soloist at the First United Methodist Church.

"Musically speaking, Mark is solid." -Blake Applegate, Director of Cantores in Ecclesia

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Mark's Photos

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